RESUMO
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study carried out among pregnant women in antenatal clinics in Togo was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and practices related to prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). METHODS: A qualitative cross-sectional study was conducted in 22 antenatal clinics. Data were collected by interviewing all pregnant women examined from January 18th to February 4th, 2010. RESULTS: A consecutive series of 210 pregnant women was compiled. The women identified sexual relations (93.8%), objects soiled with blood (80.5%) and transmission from mother to child (27.1%) as routes of HIV transmission. A large majority (77.1%) agreed that unprotected sexual relations raised the risk of HIV transmission to the child and most (61%) expressed willingness to use condoms during pregnancy or breastfeeding, A high percentage (68.1%) believed that contamination during pregnancy increased the risk of HIV transmission to the child, and 61% knew that the risk of HIV transmission to the child was higher for mixed breastfeeding than for exclusive breastfeeding. The acceptance rate for HIV testing was 92.4%. The percentage of women who never used condoms (male or female) was 51% and the percentage considering that HIV-positive woman should not have children was 29.5%. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that pregnant women in Togo have fairly good knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Attitudes towards PMTCT were generally positive but some behaviors such as condom use still require improvement.